SSML-46, 11 January 1997
Hi everyone,
A belated welcome into 1997.
The next issue of the official Shakespears Sister Fan Club newsletter, "Harmonally Yours" has just arrived, and it reports that the next single will be released sometime this winter, and that the album is scheduled for April. In the last few months Siobhan has returned to the studio where she has been recording some new tracks, "Hopeless", "Dial F For Freedom", and a song with the working title of "New Year's Day". A track previous slated for the album, and at one stage touted to be a single, "Do I Scare You?" has been re-recorded during these sessions. The newsletter also confirms that the short film which Siobhan appeared in, "Clean Break", will be broadcast on Channel Four in London at some stage. Siobhan plays the single mother, drug-addict female lead.
There is also a competition with sets of the "I Can Drive" limited edition 7" red vinyl, and "I Can Drive" poster to be won.
Siobhan was apparently on holiday in Australia prior to Christmas! Special thanks to Lisa at the fan club.
Marcella Detroit's 2nd single from her new album was released in early December in the UK. It dropped back to #176 in it's second week on the chart:
Dominator's UK Top 40 Chart Analysis (w/e December 21st 1996)
176 102 2 102 Marcella Detroit: Boy
Mike.
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Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 12:09:55 +0100 (MET)
From: Christopher Kayatz
Subject: Re: SSML-45, 18 December 1996.
Just some news from Switzerland. I've always asked you if the SS CD wont be distributed in Switzerland at all, yesterday I got real news from my CD dealer, that the single AND the album will be released in march here, next year. Just as an information for your European readers (except UK of course ;))). I hope some people might be happy by that (personally I can't wait thaaaat loong *grbml!!* :)
Christopher
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Date: Sat, 04 Jan 1997 01:57:03 -0500
From: FOAM4LESS@aol.com
Subject: Re: SIOBHAN
Back in Sept.1986 when I was 17 years old I entered a local radio contest to meet Bananarama at the Hard Rock Cafe Los Angeles (near where I live). I have always loved Bananarama since 1982. Well I entered 2,500 hand written entry blanks. After entering, Polygram Records people called me and had me as a special guest at the Bananarama Dance Party Sept. 12, 1986. It was fabulous, I got to meet and sit with Keren(pregnant at the time), Sarah and Siobhan.
Siobhan was by far the kindest to me...and yes she even fed me some of the bananasplit dessert she was eating. As a diehard fan of 17, I was thrilled. And I even kept the spoon which I still have with dried ice cream on it. I can't believe I still have it after a decade. I'm not a crazy loon trust me. Actually this is kind of fun to be remembering it after all these years. They told me to call them in about a month when they would return to L.A., Sarah wrote a date and hotel name on a postcard. But when I called the contact at Polygram I had no luck because plans changed and the Record Company lady was not too helpful. Too bad!
Once again, it was fun to remember that fun night and share it with you. Please feel free to contact me anytime with info and updates. My new email address is JUSTINLUVE@ aol.com Also, I have not heard the new song "I Can Drive". Do you know where I can get a copy from. Also I would love to locate a copy of the first video compilation tape for the Sacred Heart Album Videos. It did not come out in the USA. I could not even find a copy when I was in London last year. I'd prefer it in a NTSC version but PAL version would be fine if you know where I could find a copy. I already have the compilation video for Hormonally Yours...I love it!
Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Justin Nylander
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Finally for this time, here are some reviews I recently found in the back issues of a UK magazine:-
Mike.
Shakespear's Sister - Sacred Heart (reviewed by Neville Farmer in the November 1989 edition of the UK magazine 'Hi-Fi News & Record Review': " Siobhan Fahey's talents have been sharply exposed by the striking single 'You're History', which is currently rocketing skywards. 'Sacred Heart' doesn't throw up any other great gems, however, and one gets the feeling that the real stars of the show and producer/hubbie Dave Stewart and partner Marcella Detroit. Detroit's voice is the shocker that makes the single stand out from the crowd and while Fahey apparently runs the writing side she is always co-credited with Detroit. 'Sacred Heart' is no great album but it is pretty good and Siobhan Fahey's dark smouldering voice works well with Detroit's more versatile one. The one cover version, Marley's 'Could You Be Loved' is an interesting rendition."
Shakespear's Sister - Hormonally Yours (reviewed by Johnny Black in the June 1992 edition of 'Hi-Fi News & Record Review':
From the outset it's clear that Marcella and Siobhan will be wearing their influences on their sleeves. The first track is rich in echoes of Cockney Rebel, Lou Reed and The Beatles to name only a few. Luckily, the duo's imaginative use of these influences makes any accusation of plagiarism irrelevant, leaving no doubt that what they have is largely their own. The over-melodramatic hit single 'Stay' is untypical of the disc as a whole, which has more wit and musical diversity that might have been expected after their quirky but limited first album. Now they flirt with Hank Marvin tremolo guitars, breathless elevator music backups, coy spoken sections, whimsical funk workouts and more. An unexpected goody."
Marcella Detroit - Jewel (reviewed by Ken Kessler in the June 1994 edition of 'Hi-Fi News & Record Review':
"Detroit is the intelligent, talented half of the late, semi-lamented Shakespears Sister. The removal of the ex-Banana shows Detroit to be nowhere near as bizarre as SS's videos or arrangements suggested. Indeed, this LP is at first listening so conventional that I almost confused it for some Now That's What I Call Music-type hits anthology [a famous various artists collection series in the UK] ; I was thrown by her duet with Elton John, reworking the dire 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing'. And she screws up mightily trying to turn Sly Stone into Kate Bush [I Want To Take You Higher]. But those are the only really low points. Detroit exploits her notorious vocal range without over doing the Kiri [Te Kanawa - New Zealand opera singer] impressions. Unlike, say, Tori Amos, Detroit knows when to stop. But in some way, 'Jewel' is too eclectic, too obvious a break from her former duo, so carefully crafted as a solo album that it can't be sold on the back of SS. And for many, that's the best thing that could happen to Detroit, because she deserves a lot more than life in the TOTP [Top Of The Pops - legendary UK music clip/performance TV show] wilderness. Upscale pop with substance."
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